Forensic Investigations of Torture and Ill-Treatment in Mexico: A Follow-up Study After the Implementation of the Istanbul Protocol

摘要

Torture and ill-treatment have been documented in Mexico, despite the clear prohibition of these practices under international treaties ratified by Mexicoand the Mexican Constitution. Torture is categorized in all of the federal and state jurisdictions as a felony crime. In addition, the federal government and 14 states have enacted separate comprehensive legislation for the prevention and punishment of this crime.Although the underlying reasons torture or other ill-treatment occur in Mexico vary from place to place, these crimes have been documented in all federal and state jurisdictions. Some of the underlying factors include political repression, armed conflicts with indigenous groups, corruption of government officials, lack of training of law enforcement agents, weakness of the public defender's system, use of confessions as primary evidence in criminal cases, and inadequate investigations and documentation of torture or other ill-treatment evidence.